We are excited to announce the TSVP Thematic Program "New Frontiers in Gauge Theory, Topology, and Physics". The program is tentatively scheduled to run from September to October 2026.
Title: New Frontiers in Gauge Theory, Topology, and Physics
Theme of the program: This research program aims to advance our understanding of gauge theory and its applications across mathematics and physics, focusing on three interconnected areas:
- Vafa-Witten invariants in four-dimensional gauge theory and its relationship with higher-dimensional gauge theory;
- Applications of gauge theory to low-dimensional topology; and
- 3D mirror symmetry and its mathematical foundations.
The unifying theme is the analysis of gauge-theoretic moduli spaces which arise in various problems at the cutting edge of modern research in geometry, topology, and physics. The moduli spaces we study in each project arise from different problems and applications, however they share common insights and techniques to solve problems. A new discovery in one project may lead to surprising new insights into another project using similar techniques. This interdisciplinary approach will encourage collaboration between mathematicians and physicists with the goal of producing new perspectives on these topics and yielding novel discoveries at the forefront of modern research in fundamental sciences.
In addition to a one-day workshop for women and a conference which are backed with an Autumn School for graduate students; and a closing workshop, we plan to deliver two types of public lectures by the coordinators and program participants: one is for high school students who are interested in modern research in mathematics and physics; and the other is for undergraduate students whose majors are outside mathematics and physics. We also plan to co-organize research seminars during the program period with the related units in OIST to interact and to encourage interdisciplinary collaborations between researchers in OIST and the program participants.
Program coordinators:
Hokuto Konno (the University of Tokyo)
Izar Alonso (Rutgers University)
Sergei Gukov (California Institute of Technology)
Yuuji Tanaka (Beijing Institute of Mathematical Sciences and Applications)
Graeme Wilkin (University of York)
Tentative Schedule
Week 1 (August 31-): School/Introductory Mini courses/One-day Workshop “Women in Gauge Theory Day”
Week 2 (September 7-): Workshops
Week 3 (September 14-): Gauge theory in low and high dimensions
Week 4 (September 21-): Gauge theory in low and high dimensions
Week 5 (September 28-): Gauge theory in low and high dimensions
Week 6 (October 5-): Interaction between researchers working in gauge theory, topology and physics
Week 7 (October 12-): Gauge theory and mirror symmetry
Week 8 (October 19-): Gauge theory and mirror symmetry
Week 9 (October 26-): Gauge theory and mirror symmetry